About the Book:
Author Tess Rutjens describes in intimate detail the frightening encounters she has experienced in her own life, including the harassment of a demon.

Excerpt:
This book contains true events concerning the paranormal. Some are frightening and some are just very strange, but all are true.

I had many frightening and creepy things happen to me throughout my life, and it all began at my Grandparents’ farm in the summer of 1968. Then, as a teenager, a friend and I messed around with a Ouija board, which very well may have caused a demonic presence in my life.

The most terrifying experience however, would not happen for several more years. Those events have haunted my dreams and my life for over twenty-five years and affected my life in an extreme way, changing the way I view life and death, good and evil, God and the devil…

About the Book:A thousand years ago, a mad wizard ensorcelled five gemstones, giving them the power to call forth and control the demons that haunt Hell itself. After a blood-filled battle with the mercenaries who helped him in his bid for this power, the wizard was defeated and the stones were spread across the continent, hidden from all but legend and bard’s tale. Now, the kingdom of Tsinel threatens the tenuous peace with Albathia. King Theomann, ruler of Albathia, sets his oldest son upon a quest with his Elite Troop of warriors to find the stones. As they soon discover they’re not the only ones searching for the stones. Unbeknownst to everyone, King Theomann’s youngest son, Daedalus, has designs for power, aligning himself with the blood-thirsty leader of The Horde, a band of vile fiends razing town after town in the kingdom.

A band of ne’er-do-well thieves. A pack of insidious trolls. A group of wizards with dubious intent. All searching for the stones for their own purpose, none prepared for the power that the stones possess.

The power to control Hell will be held by one hand. Whose will it be?

Excerpt:
Finding the mad wizard proved no challenge. He stood at the base of the precipice from where he began the battle, scraping at two oozing, crimson lines with the bottom of his staff. From the cliff where he started the war, over fifty feet above him, to the ground where he stood, two lines of blood, arcing away from each other, streaked down the mountain side. The two lines crossed at the top, but remained uncompleted at the bottom.

Watching the wizard’s frenzied scraping, the mercenaries deduced the staff held the power over the demons and must be broken. However, a wall of these very demons stood between them and Wyren.

Wyren howled commands.

Four of the mercenaries formed a square, swords and axes spiked the perimeter while the archer stood firm in the middle. Arrows spewed into the air, a fountain of steel-tipped wood, piercing the marrow beyond the meat of the winged demons. A hurricane of bloody, shredded skin and broken bodies, ranging from massive to minuscule, rained from the sky. The other four warriors pitched throwing knives, daggers, and any makeshift projectile they had at their disposal to ward of the advancing monsters.

Once the archer’s quiver emptied, the mercenaries relied upon hand-held weapons as they charged into the melee. Within the flurry of teeth and steel, claws and swords, they witnessed the completion of Wyren’s mammoth blood circle.

The ground quaked, throbbed as if hell itself was expanding beyond its limits. Like a stone plunging into a lake, the mountainside rippled, changing hue from slate gray to fecal brown to apocalyptic black. All conflict ceased, eyes upon the gaping hole, even the demons stood awed.

The blackness rippled again and parted, as fingers emerged, each longer than any man in the valley. Bile green and covered with coarse hairs, the rest of the hand, larger than most houses, appeared.

The mercenary leader possessed the instinct to take advantage of the situation and snapped his attention back to the battlefield. Lopping the heads off the few demons in front of him, he rushed forth and drove his shoulder into Wyren’s back, knocking the staff from his grasp.

Wyren shrieked.

The mercenary crawled toward the staff fighting off the mad wizard’s desperate attacks, biting and scratching worse than the demons. Upon grabbing the staff, the mercenary rolled on his back and folded his leg to his chest, snapping the staff in half against his knee.

Wyren screamed; his shrill voice echoing throughout the valley. The agony reflected both the destruction of his power and the revenge enacted against him as the hand from the mountain reached down and grabbed him. Wyren continued his scream as the hand retreated with the wizard in its grasp into the fading hole on the mountainside.

The five mercenaries turned to examine the battlefield. Any demon left alive had fled. Bodies of monsters and soldiers blanketed the valley, scarred and charred from the fires of war.

Nudging the staff with his foot, one of the mercenaries saw the cause of such mayhem. The staff’s crest, once a fist, now an open hand; the Devil’s grasp released five accursed gems: the Sun Stone, the Self Stone, the Spirit Stone, the Shadow Stone, and the Satan Stone. He tried to crush them beneath his boot, then split them with his sword, but to no avail. Not uttering a single word, each of the five mercenaries scooped up a gem. With nary a backwards glance, the mercenaries were no longer, now paladins as they walked in five opposite directions, making it their quest to vanquish the stones. …

About the Authors:
Brian Koscienski & Chris Pisano skulk the realms of south, central Pennsylvania. Brian developed a love of writing from countless hours of reading comic books and losing himself in the worlds and adventures found within their colorful pages. In tenth grade, Chris was discouraged by his English teacher from reading H.P. Lovecraft, and being a naturally disobedient youth he has been a fan ever since. They have logged many hours writing novels, stories, articles, comic books, reviews, and on occasion a bawdy haiku. During their tenure as a writing duo, they even started their own micro-press publishing company, Fortress Publishing, Inc.

GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released The Death Machine, Charles K. Godfrey’s sequel to the bestsellingThe Final Charge.

About the Book:The Death Machine is the sequel to The Final Charge, the story of Mike, Ray, and Gordon, three Civil War reenactors, who accidentally time traveled to Gettysburg in July, 1863. They took part in Pickett’s Charge and, at the end, when they made it home, they discovered they had somehow changed history.

The characters find themselves in a wonderful new world, but underneath its facade, there exists an evil that continues to grow. One of the characters is murdered, and the others risk their lives, traveling through time again to try to reset the timeline. This involves stopping a secret weapon that could foil their plans.

Excerpt:
Friday, July 3, 1863
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
It was a sultry 90-degree day. The sky rained hot metal down on the men crossing the Emmitsburg Road. Double canister tore through the Confederate rank and file every step of the way. Pickett’s Charge was in its final minutes as the Confederates dashed toward the stone wall at the area known as the Angle. In the oppressive heat of the day and the dense smoke of cannon fire, Armistead’s Confederate brigade passed through the two decimated brigades of Garnett and Kemper that were at the front.

With the stench of sulfur in their mouths and nostrils, the men of the Ninth Virginia Regiment headed for the stone wall, right where Lieutenant Cushing’s Fourth U.S. Light Artillery was located. Lieutenant Cushing had his men push the two cannons down to the stone wall to greet the oncoming Confederates. Sergeant Fuger was at his side and in the process of loading the guns when Lt. Cushing was hit in the groin by a piece of shrapnel. Lt. Cushing fell against the gun and slid to the ground, holding his wound.

Sergeant Fuger rushed to his side. “Lon, you okay?” He saw Lt. Cushing’s guts protruding from his wound and he called for the medical stewards. When the stewards got there, Cushing waved them off.

“Please, Fred, help me up,” Cushing asked.

Sergeant Fuger helped him to his feet and with the Confederates coming over the wall, Lt. Cushing grabbed his sergeant by the lapel. “Give them double canister.”

“Let ‘em have it!” Sergeant Fuger yelled.

Unbeknownst to Cushing, the gunners were killed before they could get the shots off. Seeing the bayonets coming his way, Lt. Cushing yelled, “Fire the damn–“

At that very moment, a Minié ball entered his mouth and blew out the back of his head. He fell from the sergeant’s arms to the ground, dead.

After witnessing the death of Lt. Cushing, Sergeant Fuger turned his attention to the Confederates coming over the wall. He pulled the lanyard. The discharge was devastating. Hell seemed to be cut loose on the remaining Confederates inside the Angle.

The smoke was so thick and the noise so loud that confusion gripped the battlefield. The two sides struggled and fought in deadly hand-to-hand combat. Men picked up rocks and threw them at each other. Cushing’s battery was overrun and the Confederate flags were going up over the stone wall.

Union General Webb, seeing the hole punched into the lines, put in reinforcements at the Angle and the tide soon turned. The Confederates were driven back. One by one, the men in butternut and gray were on the retreat.

The battle was over, but the carnage remained. Smoke boiled up from the battlefield along with the sickening stench of death that filled the air.

Wounded men from both sides begged for water, while the horses writhed in their death rattles. It was the true picture of butchery and death. Pickett’s Charge was over.

About the Author:Charles K. Godfrey started out in Baltimore County Fire Department as a Firefighter and was quickly promoted to Paramedic. He was promoted to Lieutenant and served the Fire Investigation unit. He retired as a Fire Lieutenant with 27 years’ service.

During this time, as a hobby, he reenacted the Civil War with the First Maryland Volunteer Infantry Regiment. For more than twenty years, he participated in the reenactments of Gettysburg, Manassas, Cedar Creek, and many others, including living history events at Fort McHenry and Harpers Ferry. He took part in the 150th ceremonies at Gettysburg.

He is a history buff that likes to blend fiction with history. In addition, he is enthusiastic about science fiction and loves the idea of time travel. He resides in northern Baltimore County with his wife of 40 years.

SPOKANE, Wash. — Sunbury Press has released The Wolf of Britannia, Jess Steven Hughes’ prequel to the bestsellingThe Sign of the Eagle. The novel has been released in two parts.

About the Part I:The Wolf of Britannia, Part I, is a breathtaking historical novel of action and suspense set in the wilds of First Century AD Britain. A young Celtic warrior, soon-to-be-legendary Prince Caratacus, must unite the southern tribes of Britain to fight an enemy more cunning and powerful than either he or Britain has ever faced, the juggernaut of imperial Rome.

As the prince fights alongside his wife, Rhian, a warrior princess who takes no prisoners, Caratacus must also outsmart a traitorous brother determined to take the throne with the support of Rome.

The Wolf of Britannia, Part I, is the story of a courageous man who must save his country not only from internal strife and treachery, but from the tyranny of Rome or die trying.

Excerpt:
Caratacus’s wicker chariot bucked and hurtled across every dip and rise in the track. Two lathering ponies strained at their harness as the young prince urged them ahead. Man-sized wooden targets sprinkled the course. Caratacus struck each through the heart with his casting spears. Now he raced for the finish line in a swirl of chalky dust, blue eyes ablaze with excitement.

Tawny hair whipped about his sunburned face. He sweated profusely in a woolen, short-sleeved tunic and tartan breeches, dust muting their colors. A gold collar burned his neck, but to rip it off would bring bad luck. The earthy musk of horse sweat blotted out all other odors.

Behind him, clattering wheels and thudding hooves roared in his ears. Four other chariots steadily gained on him. His horses responded to the stinging touch as he slapped the reins. Caratacus leaped from the flimsy cart onto the center drawbar between his team when another chariot nosed into the lead. He struggled for a foothold and looped the dragging reins about his wrists. Barefooted, he deftly edged his way forward on the jouncing bar and catapulted onto the back of his favorite beast. Kneeling on the bay pony, he bellowed encouragement, calling for even greater speed.

Sucking dust and screaming, urging the racers to ever greater strides, throngs of men, women, and children circled the large, rutted oval, which served as a race track below the great hill fortress of Camulodunum.

A small boy chasing a dog darted from the crowd and crossed in the front of Caratacus’s path. A woman screamed. He sucked in his breath—Damn! In a flash he kicked the pony’s side, sharply swerving the team, barely missing the child. The chariot bounced, arcing one wheel off the ground and back to the earth with a thud. Violently wrenched from the beast’s back, Caratacus grabbed its yoke collar and yanked himself up on the withers. A throbbing pain shot through his loins from where he caught the horse’s knotty backbone between his legs.

For an instant, Caratacus glanced at the jostling throng. He caught sight of flaxen-haired Rhian, daughter of the king’s champion. The young woman screamed encouragement. His team leaped ahead and stampeded towards the finish.

Caratacus heard a pop and then a rumbling noise. He turned and saw the left trace rein on his other pony had snapped loose from an iron holding lug. It whipped back and forth along the animal’s side. The mare squealed, terrified by the bridle’s lashing. She strained at leather bands around her girth and neck, trying to lurch free of the yoke collar.

About the Part II:The Wolf of Britannia, Part II, is a breathtaking historical novel of action and suspense set in the years between 43 and 60 AD, in the mysterious land of ancient Britain and the majestic palaces of Rome. In the first millennium’s early days, the Romans held power over most of the world’s people through disciplined savagery, yet many citizens fought to break from tyranny. This painstaking researched tale is of one such fight for freedom.

In the wilds of Britain, the soon-to-be-legendary King Caratacus and his tribe of Celtic warriors are facing down the seemingly unbeatable Roman army.

After winning the southern British throne, Caratacus leads his people as they strive for freedom from the iron-fisted Roman rule that has nearly obliterated their culture and lifestyle. As the king fights to keep his people free, he must also battle his beautiful, conniving, and lascivious cousin−a queen who wants Caratacus for herself. The Wolf of Britannia, Part II, is the story of one daring man, willing to risk his life to destroy the entire Roman army.

About the Author:Jess Steven Hughes brought his lifetime’s fascination with ancient Roman history into his debut novel, THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE. Jess is a retired a police detective sergeant, Long Beach Police Dept, Long Beach, CA. He holds a Masters Degree from the University of Southern California in Public Administration with a minor (my first academic love) in Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations. He also served four years United States Marine Corps (1962/66). As a retired person, Jess believes in keeping very busy. You must stay active mentally, physically and socially. These are a few of the keys to a long and healthy retirement. Writing novels has contribute greatly to my quality of life. He lives with his wife, Liz, on a four acre mini-farm in Eastern Washington. His hobby is outdoor model railroading. He has an outdoor model railroad that was featured in the June/July, 2010 issue of the regional magazine PRIME NORTHWEST (www.primenw.com). Check their website for the article.

Jess is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association (PNWA), the Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA) and is active in two writers groups in the Spokane, WA area (Spokane Novelists and Spokane Valley Writers).

NEWBURGH, N.Y. — Sunbury Press has released Adventures in Distant and Remote Places: A Memoir, William E. Lemanski’s recounting of his various quests.

About the Book:This memoir by William E. Lemanski, award winning author of Lost in the Shadow of Fame, covers some of his many adventurous travels in war, sailing, fishing and big game hunting. Spanning well over forty years, Lemanski discusses hunting trips across North America from New Mexico to artic Canada as well as pursuing some of the dangerous game of Africa. A graphic and poignant picture is portrayed of the night-time hostilities around Saigon during the Vietnam War and its emotional impact on a plane load of young paratroopers. His sailing adventures will convey the excitement and danger he and his friends experienced while braving a severe storm far out at sea in a small sailboat. These and other adventures will entertain and excite those of a kindred spirit with an interest in unusual travel – far from the beaten path.

Contents:
1-Sailing through Storm Seas
2-Cruising in Strange Waters
3-Fishing Alaskan Waters
4-A Journey to Hades in the Age of Aquarius
5-Army Duty in a Historic Paradise
6-Hunting Caribou in the Far North
7-In Black Bear Country
8-Moose, the Giant Deer of the North
9-The Fleet footed Phantom of the Great Plains
10-Adventures on the Dark Continent
11-Why do we Hunt?

Excerpt:
On our third day out we spotted the tail end of what appeared to be a sizeable herd. After immediately beaching the canoe I began trudging after Norman who somehow seemed to sense how the caribou would move. Hiking across the tundra becomes quite a physical workout after only a few hundred yards. Due to the perpetually frozen permafrost just beneath the surface and the high winter winds, nothing larger than sparse shrub-brush will grow. Where no large boulders protrude, the ground is covered in a thick blanket of spongy lichens and moss. As you walk across this green carpet, your weight will sink into the growth and squish into a watery layer above the frozen sub-surface, not unlike running on a sandy beach. Adding to this sticky muck are the endless undulations of hillocks rising in some cases to over 50 feet that add to your exertion along with numerous streams and rivulets of water forcing you to either slop through or spend time hopping across rocks.

Norman and I continued in this manner in quick time for about two miles following a few herd stragglers before reaching the main group. After climbing up a rise, spread before us was a congregation of perhaps thousands of caribou, covering many acres of the valley below. Some were feeding on the ground cover and some were prancing about as many of the calves were tagging along behind their mothers.

At this point, the challenge now for the hunter is to pick out what appears to be the best member of the herd within reasonable shooting range, without spooking or inadvertently hitting any of the numerous animals. This is a somewhat difficult task as the wealth of numbers excites the trigger finger and dulls the judgment. Adding to the confusion, females of the species also carry antlers, albeit smaller in size than the male. The ideal goal is to select an animal with large, high curves to the antlers, a large set of spikes pointing to the rear on each, a large set of what are called bez, i.e., two protruding pieces of antler pointing forward and what we call a “double shovel” caribou. This is an animal that will carry two additional symmetrical and wide, palmate antler protrusions just ahead of his eyes. Arriving at an accurate decision of which to take while winded, excited, and overwhelmed seeing this magisterial display of nature for the first time is a test of one’s discipline, not to mention shooting skill.

While lying prone and breathless with my rifle steadied on a large rock, I spied what I thought was a fine trophy bull approximately 200 yards distant. As I set the crosshairs of the .308 Ruger behind the caribou’s shoulder and squeezed the trigger, the 180-grain, Nosler Partition bullet hit home. The animal immediately dropped as the unsuspecting herd continued to graze. Although not a record book quality trophy, the near perfect symmetrical antlers arched fairly high, with long tines pointing to the rear and wide bez that appeared as twin hands with multiple fingers on each.

After spooking the heard while retrieving our kill, Norman immediately gutted the animal and removed the liver. I prepared a small fire with dried moss and pieces of twig I scavenged, and we feasted on the large barbecued organ.

About the Author:William E. Lemanski, a Viet Nam combat veteran, has a former engineering background in the nuclear power industry. Since retiring from both the New York Power Authority and Entergy Nuclear Northeast, he has been a freelance journalist in the Hudson Valley of New York, has held public office as a councilman and served as a police commissioner in the Town of Tuxedo, New York. When not researching new book material, he spends time traveling the world on various big-game hunting expeditions.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released OneWay: The Message,a supernatural thriller and spiritual adventure by Robin McClellan and his wife Deborah Mark.

About the Book:For Angela Roberts, it is a tragedy that touches off her journey into the mysterious legend of her grandmother, Iana Hamilton. Grief-stricken and confused, Angela strives to learn more about her past, and soon she finds that Iana’s cryptic illustrations from years gone by can lead her closer to the truth.

Angela’s world quickly begins to spiral out of control as she has her own mysterious experiences, similar to those her grandmother had gone through. She seeks help in the safety of her friendships and her marriage, but not before her journey takes her into the sphere of terrorism, time travel, electromagnetic energy and sometimes even what some refer to as the paranormal.

Excerpt:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 1902
Reginald and Margaret Hamilton were recognized within the business community and societal circles of Philadelphia as successful and abounding in God’s blessings for their lives. Reginald had climbed the ladder of success, achieving his fortune through hard work, perseverance and a steadfast belief in the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.The couple had an unwavering devotion and a deep, abiding faith in God, dutifully placing God first and then believing all else would fall into place. Now in their early forties, their station in life reflected this belief. Their deep spirituality and honorable work ethic was a testimony to the Bible verse Ephesians 3:20: He who is able to do exceedinglyabundantlyabove all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. They had been blessed far beyond their wildest dreams, except in one area of their lives.

Margaret Hamilton’s heart longed for the day when God would bless them with a child. Year after year, she had seen the best physicians Philadelphia and New York had to offer, each time being reassured and encouraged that physically she was capable of becoming pregnant and delivering a healthy baby. But as one year moved into the next, it seemed that this was not God’s plan for them, at least not in the customary way. The couple had discussed adoption from time to time, which now was looking to be their only option of ensuring their hearts’ desire of bringing a child into their family. Night after night, instead of praying for God to bless Margaret with a pregnancy, now their prayers were for God to lead them to the child that He had chosen for them—a child not only in need of a loving family, but one who was in need of help due to life’s trials and tribulations.

On the first of the New Year, Margaret scheduled a meeting with the Head Master at the prestigious Greenwich Adoption Agency in Philadelphia. And within a few days, the Hamiltons were approved and raring to go on their search for either a son or a daughter to complete their family.

By the end of the first week of meetings, Margaret and Reginald were introduced to a young girl from Egypt. She immediately captured their attention and soon would capture their hearts as well. Even though the Head Master found her to be well-behaved and quite pleasant, he strongly urged against adopting her due to her vague past and lack of family and medical history. At best, she was most likely the bastard child of a poor, uneducated woman who lived in a small, remote village near Cairo. And in his opinion, she wouldn’t be the ideal fit for an affluent couple such as themselves.

He went on to further explain that a few years earlier, during an excavation trip to Egypt, a group of archaeologists from the American Institute of Archaeology in Philadelphia found her among the ancient ruins of the Great Pyramids of Egypt. It had been reported to the Egyptian government officials that on that day, a bright fireball with a vapor trail possibly hundreds of kilometers long streaked across the sky at noon. Within seconds of seeing the first flash of light, the archaeologists watched as a second fireball streaked across the sky and exploded somewhere behind the smaller pyramid in the group. A shockwave resulted, launching sand and rubble (or meteorite fragments) through the air. Fearful for their lives, and thinking that the world was coming to an end or that the earth was about to open up and devour them, the archaeologists turned to run. Then, suddenly, amidst the flying debris and chaos, a small child emerged from behind the pyramid where they’d seen the second flash of light. No one in the group spoke a word as the men watched this small, delicate child take one unsure step after another until she emerged from the dust to stand directly in front of them. This solemn-faced child appeared exhausted and only a day—or even hours—away from dehydration and starvation. Her lifeless and tired eyes indicated to the group that she was possibly suffering from a past traumatic event. Her skin was dry, sun-scorched and cracked; her clothing was torn and filthy. In short, it was undeniable this small child had been alone in the desert for some time. However, with the village deserted, there was no way to confirm or deny their suspicions, and there was no way to track down her identity.

About the Authors:
Robin McClellan was born and raised in a small town outside of Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Growing up in the world of science fiction and spirituality, at a young age he studied the Bible, meditation, lucid dreaming, self-hypnosis and time travel. As Robin got older, he turned his attention to the world of quantum physics, specifically sub-atomic particles and how they seem to co-exist with spirituality. Robin is a self-made musician, inventor and an IT professional of over 30 years. Robin is a father, a son, a brother and a lover of life.

OneWay is the second novel for Deborah Mark McClellan. Deborah is also the author of A Season of Dying, published in May, 2012. This novel portrays a compelling testimony on the power of faith, prayer, love and service. Commissioned as a Stephen Minister in May, 2011 along with drawing from her life’s journey, Deborah continues to offer spiritual and emotional support to men and women confronted with their own life’s trials and tribulations. She lives with her four children and ten grandchildren in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released the bestsellers list for January, 2015. The late Beth Lancione’s Solomon Screen Owl Goes to the Galapagos was #1, followed by Solomon Screech Owl’s First Flight. Lola James claimed the third spot with Flying Pants. All were childrens books benefitting from Children’s Day at the Sunbury Press Store.

About Solomon Screech Owl Goes to the Galapagos:
In the second of Solomon Screech Owl’s stories, Sollie travels, with help from some whales, to the Galapagos Islands, where he meets birds that seem very different from himself. As he gets to know them better, he comes to understand that they all have more in common than he first thought.

About the author & illustrator:
Beth and Kathy, with their husbands Mel Lancione and Gary Haney, visited the Galapagos Islands in 2005 and saw, at very close range, all of the fascinating creatures that Sollie encounters in this book.

Beth said, “A fellow traveler once told me, ‘If you go only one place in your life, go to Galapagos.’ I agree. I’ve been to many other places, but Galapagos is my favorite. I definitely wanted to show Sollie, and all of our readers, the wonders of these special, unique islands.”

Kathy said, “The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the earth’s unique birds and animals. There are few places in the world where you can have an upclose and personal interaction with wild creatures.

The Blue-Footed Boobies captured our imaginations, along with the iguanas, tortoises, and many other birds. We want to share our love of Galapagos with you.”

SUNBURY PRESS – Bestsellers for January, 2015 (by Revenue)

Rank

Last Month

Title

Author

Category

1

—

Solomon Screech Owl Goes to the Galapagos

Beth Lancione

Childrens

2

—

Solomon Screech Owl’s First Flight

Beth Lancione

Childrens

3

—

Flying Pants

Lola James

Childrens

4

4

As the Paint Dries

Carrie Wissler-Thomas

Art History

5

—

Jesus the Phoenician

Karim El Koussa

Relgious History

6

—

Shadows in the Shining City

John Cressler

Historical Fiction

7

2

Geology of the Mahanoy, Mahantongo and Lykens Valleys

Steve Troutman

Earth History

8

9

Call Sign Dracula

Joe Fair

War Memoir

9

11

Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last

Mike Campbell

History

10

NEW

Beagle Tales 5

Bob Ford

Pet Humor

11

—

Petrified

Tanya Reimer

YA Fiction

12

1

Pit Bulls

Anthony Julian

History

13

—

Going Home

Sharon Marchisello

Thriller Fiction

14

18

Winter of the Metal People

Dennis Herrick

Historical Fiction

15

—

Emeralds of the Alhambra

John Cressler

HIstorical Fiction

16

3

Visions of Teaoga

Jim Remsen

YA Fiction

17

—

The Trevorton, Mahanoy and Susquehanna Railroad

Steve Troutman

History

18

—

Tulpehocken Trail Traces

Steve Troutman

History

19

—

The Phoenician Code

Karim El Koussa

Action Adventure

20

—

Whimsy and Wry

Guy Graybill

Literary Fiction

Sunbury Press had its best January ever, up nearly 3x from last January, and 4.5% from December. It was the first time in 5 years that January sales topped December. Hardcover books grabbed the top 4 spots in the bestseller rankings, dominated by the Children’s category. Trade paperback sales were double hardcover sales, and remain the most popular format. EBooks have slipped to third, amounting to only 5% of all sales. Hardcover sales were over 6x the eBook sales. EBook sales were up over last month, however, by nearly 20% thanks to price increases implemented after Christmas.

The three children’s books were helped by the standing-room only Children’s Day event at the Sunbury Press Store — more successful than the 10th Anniversary Party with Keith Rommel, Brahm Gallagher, and Bang. Ten Percent of all sales from that day were donated to help the Lanciones following the death of Beth, the author of the Solomon Screech Owl series, and her husband Mel. As the Paint Dries, Carrie Wissler-Thomas’s history of the Art Association of Harrisburg, co-authored by Michael Barton, held at #4 due to demand at the Art Association. Karim El Koussa’s Jesus the Phoenician(#5) and The Phoenician Code (#19) took two spots on the list due to export orders to Lebanon. John Cressler’s due, Shadows in the Shining City and Emeralds of the Alhambra grabbed #6 and #15 due to author events. Steve Troutman’s Geology of the Mahanoy, Mahantongo and Lykens Valleysheld at #7 thanks to author activities. Troutman also charted at #17 with The Trevorton, Mahanoy, and Mahantongo Railroad and #18 with Tulpehocken Trail Traces. Joe Fair’s Vietnam memoir Call Sign Dracula climbed the rankings to #8 thanks to author appearances. Mike Campbell’s Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last inched up to #9 due to continued national media attention for the search for the aviatrix’s plane. Beagle Tales 5 debuted at #10 thanks to Bob Ford’s following. Petrified, the YA novel by Canadian Tanya Reimer, returned to the chart at #11 thanks to sales north of the border. Tony Julian’s Pit Bulls, available in both trade paperback and hardcover, slipped to #12 following a strong Christmas showing. Sharon Marchisello’s Going Home grabbed lucky #13 thanks to sales in the Southland in advance of her events. Winter of the Metal People, by Dennis Herrick, moved up to #14 thanks to author activities. Jim Remsen’s Visions of Teaga slipped to #16. Guy Graybill’s Whimsy and Wry rounded out the list, thanks to author activities.